Smithsonian Institute, Washington, District of Columbia, United States
Wally Amos speaks at a presentation to the American History Collection at the Smithsonian Institute on November 18, 1980 in Washington, D.C.
Gallery of Wallace Amos, Jr.
1980
Smithsonian Institute, Washington, District of Columbia, United States
Wally Amos speaks at a presentation to the American History Collection at the Smithsonian Institute on November 18, 1980 in Washington, D.C. Photo by Diana Walker
Gallery of Wallace Amos, Jr.
1988
Anaheim Convention Center, Anaheim, California, United States
Wally Amos attends American Booksellers Association Convention on May 29, 1988 at the Anaheim Convention Center in Anaheim, California. Photo by Ron Galella, Ltd.
Gallery of Wallace Amos, Jr.
1988
Denver, Colorado, United States
Robert Baer, Wally Amos, Rob Baer and Jeffery Baer at announcement of Famous Amos Cookies Co. presence in Denver, and the Baers ownership of the Co. Photo By Duane Howell
Gallery of Wallace Amos, Jr.
1988
Denver, Colorado, United States
Mayor Federico Pena welcomes Wally of the Famous Amos Cookie, Co. to Denver. Photo By Duane Howell
Gallery of Wallace Amos, Jr.
1995
Wally Amos reads a story to kids from the Langston/Carver Boys and Girls Club in DC at a Forestville, Md. 7-11 store on Boone's Ln. He is promoting his new 'Uncle Noname Cookies'. Photo by Dudley M. Brooks
Gallery of Wallace Amos, Jr.
2008
From left, John Y. Cole, Center for the Book in the Library of Congress, Wally Amos of Chip and Cookie, author Jon Scieszka and Librarian of Congress, James Billington, attend an award ceremony where Scieszka was named the Library's first National Ambassador for Young People's Literature, September 26, 2008. Photo By Tom Williams
Gallery of Wallace Amos, Jr.
Wally Amos, inventor of Famous Amos Cookies, & his wife present company trademarks: a shirt & hat to Smithsonian Institution. Photo by Diana Walker
Gallery of Wallace Amos, Jr.
Babson College, Wellesley, Massachusetts, United States
Wally Amos, cookie entrepreneur at Babson College. Photo by David L. Ryan
Smithsonian Institute, Washington, District of Columbia, United States
Wally Amos speaks at a presentation to the American History Collection at the Smithsonian Institute on November 18, 1980 in Washington, D.C. Photo by Diana Walker
Anaheim Convention Center, Anaheim, California, United States
Wally Amos attends American Booksellers Association Convention on May 29, 1988 at the Anaheim Convention Center in Anaheim, California. Photo by Ron Galella, Ltd.
Robert Baer, Wally Amos, Rob Baer and Jeffery Baer at announcement of Famous Amos Cookies Co. presence in Denver, and the Baers ownership of the Co. Photo By Duane Howell
Wally Amos reads a story to kids from the Langston/Carver Boys and Girls Club in DC at a Forestville, Md. 7-11 store on Boone's Ln. He is promoting his new 'Uncle Noname Cookies'. Photo by Dudley M. Brooks
From left, John Y. Cole, Center for the Book in the Library of Congress, Wally Amos of Chip and Cookie, author Jon Scieszka and Librarian of Congress, James Billington, attend an award ceremony where Scieszka was named the Library's first National Ambassador for Young People's Literature, September 26, 2008. Photo By Tom Williams
(Wally Amos. Today, his name is a household word wherever ...)
Wally Amos. Today, his name is a household word wherever his cookies precede him, and that's in Japan, Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia, the United States, and Canada. A top-notch promoter at heart, Amos is constantly traveling, not only to promote his cookies, but also to speak on college campuses about the secrets of his success... and his favorite charity, Literacy Volunteers of America (LVA). He was a member of the President's Private Sector Initiatives group, and he's written an autobiography, The Famous Amos Story: The Face That Launched a Thousand Chips.
(Watermelon Magic is talk from the soul using watermelons ...)
Watermelon Magic is talk from the soul using watermelons as a metaphor for life. Watermelons symbolize the slurpy happiness of life for Wally Amos (formerly known as "Famous Amos"). From his life experiences, Wally sees many parallels between humans and watermelons. Just as the vine connects watermelons and the umbilical cord connects mother and child, we are all connected by spirit. Wally shares his personal path to wisdom and tells how he never lost his humor, joy, and positive outlook on life in the process. He shows us how to overcome adversity and make healthy choices - how to reframe and rethink challenging situations in positive, optimistic, and uplifting terms. A master storyteller, Wally believes we all have a choice in our own happiness - no matter who we are, no matter what we’ve been through - and his stories will touch you at the very depth of your soul. If these ideas and beliefs speak to you, grab them like slices of watermelon, devour them, and have fun! Look out for the seeds, and live life to the fullest!
The Cookie Never Crumbles: Inspirational Recipes for Everyday Living
(The Cookie Never Crumbles is Wally's philosophy, and this...)
The Cookie Never Crumbles is Wally's philosophy, and this book will show you, through touching, hilarious, thought-provoking stories, how you can adopt this philosophy for yourself. From Wally's childhood, up through his days in the entertainment business, to the creation of "Famous Amos" cookies, and to his current way of life, Wally Amos will make you laugh, make you dream, and make you think. Read this book and learn why The Cookie Never Crumbles.
Be Positive! Insights on How to Live an Inspiring and Joy-filled Life
(In this book, world-famous entrepreneur and motivator Wal...)
In this book, world-famous entrepreneur and motivator Wally Amos shares his ingredients for creating a positive outlook that will carry you wherever you want to go in life. His recipe for lasting change is simple yet profound: by cultivating an optimistic, hopeful attitude you can literally transform your reality and discover the kind of inner joy and fulfillment that stays with you always.
(An insightful journey into the power of a positive attitu...)
An insightful journey into the power of a positive attitude, Amos asserts that its not ones circumstances that determine happiness, but rather how those circumstances are viewed. This book emphasizes the impact of everyday choices, while stressing the importance of making a conscious decision to live a joy-filled life.
(In this inspiring book, author and entrepreneur Wally Amo...)
In this inspiring book, author and entrepreneur Wally Amos uses personal stories from his own life to show that the keys to happiness are not found in Hollywood-style good looks and status-symbol possessions, but rather come from developing a strong sense of self-worth.
Wallace Amos, Jr. is an American entrepreneur and author. He founded the Famous Amos cookie brand.
Background
Wallace Amos, Jr. was born on July 1, 1936 in Tallahassee, Leon County, Florida, United States. He is a son of Wallace and Ruby Amos. Following his parents' separation in 1948, Amos was sent to New York City to live with his Aunt Della, who often baked homemade chocolate chip and pecan cookies. He later said of the experience, "We certainly had no monetary wealth, but Aunt Della's home was always rich in the principles and qualities vital to a child’s upbringing. And it was filled with the aroma of her delicious chocolate chip cookies."
Education
Wallace Amos's penchant for cooking led him to enroll at the Food Trades Vocational High School, where he studied culinary arts for two years. Shortly before graduating, Amos dropped out of high school to join the United States Air Force. He served at Hickam Air Force Base in Honolulu, Hawaii from 1954 until 1957. He earned his high school equivalency diploma before being honorably discharged from the military.
Career
After a four-year stint in the United States Air Force, Wallace Amos, Jr. returned to New York in 1957. He spent the ensuing years working in the stock room at Saks Fifth Avenue, and in the mailroom at the prestigious William Morris Agency. In 1962, following a number of promotions, Amos became the first black talent agent in the history of the William Morris Agency. Determined to make his mark by signing a blockbuster act, his tenacity was rewarded when he discovered the singing duo Simon & Garfunkel. Over the next few years, Amos headed the agency's newly formed rock 'n' roll department, where he worked with Diana Ross, Marvin Gaye and Sam Cooke.
In 1967, he left William Morris Agency and moved to Los Angeles with an intention to start a personal management company. However, he found it difficult to continue the business under the mounting pressure of his accumulated burden of debts. Facing a tough time, he recalled his good old days spent with his Aunt Della savoring the delectable chocolate chip cookies baked by her.
Wally Amos started baking chocolate chip cookies using the recipe of his Aunt with some refinement and opened a first of his many "Famous Amos" cookie stores in Los Angeles, California. He procured a $25000 loan from Helen Reddy and Marvin Gaye to fund the initiative. With innovative marketing strategy and a sustained advertisement campaign, ‘Famous Amos’ began to expand its business until those ‘Famous Amos’ chocolate cookies were made available on the shelves of the American supermarket stores. Amos spent a decade enjoying the dominant success of his cookie kingdom. In 1985, he started to dispose of parts of his company due to some financial mismanagement.
In 1988, Shansby Group purchased the Famous Amos Company including its trademark ‘Famous Amos.’ Amos could resume his role as the brand ambassador of his ‘Famous Amos’ brand once again after Keebler Company purchased the brand name in 1998. During the mid-90s, leading Famous Amos distributor Lou Avignone launched a muffin company, initially named as "The Uncle Noname Gourmet Muffins" in collaboration with Wally Amos. The company was renamed as Uncle Wally's Muffin Company in 1999. The company has a presence of over 3500 stores around the world.
Apart from his cookie empire, Amos authored ten books. A number of these books including "The Power in You" and "The Cookie Never Crumbles" possessed a self-help theme. He appeared in some television shows as well including Taxi (1978), Traxx (1988) and The Office (2005). Amos started his new cookie business named "The Cookie Kahuna" in 2014. He appeared in an episode of Shark Tank on October 6, 2016.
Wallace Amos, Jr. is famous as the founder of Famous Amos. The company expanded quickly, selling more than $1 million worth of cookies by its second year. Wallace is the recipient of many honors and awards including the President’s Award for Entrepreneurial Excellence, the Horatio Alger Award, and the National Literacy Honors Award. He has been inducted into the Babson College Academy of Distinguished Entrepreneurs.
Wallace Amos, Jr. is associated with the Literacy Volunteers of America and a vociferous advocate of removing illiteracy from the face of the United States. In 1987, he also hosted a television series designed to teach others how to read, entitled Learn to Read. In 2005, he and his wife, Christine, founded the Read it LOUD! Foundation, which urges parents to read aloud to children for at least ten minutes each day in an effort to end illiteracy.
Personality
Wally Amos, Jr. isn't the type of person to share a lot on his personal life on the internet or the media.
Connections
On July 1, 1979 Wallace Amos, Jr. married Christine Harris, a flight attendant and product designer. He was previously married to Shirlee Ellis and Maria Laforey. Wallace has three sons by first two marriages and has a daughter, Sarah Kapiolani, with his third wife.
